Recommendation 1

6.17    The committee recommends that the Commonwealth, states and territories, through the Council of Australian Governments, develop and implement a national domestic trade ban on elephant ivory and rhinoceros horn. The domestic trade ban should be consistent with those implemented in other like-minded international jurisdictions.

Recommendation 2

6.23    The committee recommends the inclusion of the following exemptions applicable to elephant ivory as part of the domestic trade ban framework:

• a de minimis exemption for items content of less than 10 per cent and made prior to 1975;
• musical instruments with content of less than 20 per cent and made prior to 1975;
• portrait miniatures produced 100 years or more prior to the domestic trade ban coming into force;
• an exemption for CITES-accredited museums and art institutions; and
• an exemption for items deemed by an authorised advisory institution to be the rarest and most important items their type, and produced 100 years or more prior to the domestic trade ban coming into force.

Recommendation 3

6.25    The committee recommends that the Commonwealth government gives careful consideration to the need for exemptions for items made of or containing rhinoceros horn, and includes them in a domestic trade ban if appropriate.

Recommendation 4

6.28    The committee recommends that the Commonwealth government considers the applicability of the enforcement provisions under the proposed United Kingdom ivory ban to an Australian domestic trade ban, and in so doing consults with relevant law enforcement agencies.

Recommendation 5

6.32    The committee recommends a grace period under the domestic trade ban during which those in possession of items containing elephant ivory and rhinoceros horn may sell them if they choose.

Recommendation 6

6.59    The committee recommends that the Department of the Environment and Energy:

• reviews its education and information initiatives, in consultation with the antiques and auction industries;
• implements changes identified during the course of the review to improve knowledge and understanding of CITES requirements; and
• regularly informs businesses in the antiques and auction industries to ensure they are aware of their obligations and compliant with them.

Recommendation 7

6.61    The committee recommends that the Commonwealth government supports international public campaigns designed to make it socially unacceptable to, and create stigma around the purchase and ownership of items containing elephant ivory and rhino horn in an attempt to reduce demand.

Recommendation 8

6.64    The committee recommends that the Department of Home Affairs updates the Importing Antiques information sheet available on its website, to ensure the accuracy and relevance of this information.

Recommendation 9

6.67    The committee recommends that the Department of the Environment and Energy and the Department of Home Affairs develop and distribute higher profile educational material that promotes awareness about the wildlife trade, including information about elephant ivory and rhinoceros horn, and the obligations on travellers with these items.

Recommendation 10

6.70    The committee recommends that the Department of the Environment and Energy consults with Commonwealth, state and territory environment and consumer affairs agencies to develop and implement an education strategy to inform stakeholders about their obligations under a domestic trade ban.

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